September 14th, 1864, Atlanta, GA

In My Office Near Atlanta
Sept. 14, 1864

My dear Parents,

Your letter of 31st Aug. has come to hand. Also a package containing a beautiful and at the same time useful present from each of father, mother , brother and sisters. For all these tokens of remembrance I am very thankful.

You say you sent the knife for me to sell; now I at first supposed it a present, if not, I cannot take money for it, but will gladly give money so soon as we are paid by the U.S. I did not enter the army for the purpose of making money. Neither am I willing to monopolize some sutler’s trade. Therefore I must decline pedling.

Our Corps is in camp one and one half miles south of Atlanta on the Macon R.R. (RR) Cars are running regularly. I would much prefer our present camp away from the filth and contamination of the city than a position inside the city limits. I went through Atlanta  a few days since, Ah, it is a horrible place – neglect and ruin are everywhere, dirt, poverty, wretchedness and wickedness are the ruling powers that be. Atlanta is spread over a large area of ground, is not nearly as compactly built as Nashville. Many of the larger houses were burned by Yankee shells. In every garden or yard are erected small cellar bombproof forts on private account for the use of women, children and negros to screen themselves from the inquisitiveness of the “vandal’s” twenty pound Parrott blue Mass; Yes and the people have from appearance kept as close to these private affairs as the Chivalry did to those public outside of the city. Immense forts and heavy lines of works surround the town on all sides yet all these and millions of destroyed property together with twenty pieces of 64 and 100 pounder guns were abandoned by Hood. Sherman used him  as a mere child. While near Jonesboro we captured a Reb. Lieut. on his way to join his command; he had been to the great jubilee given by Hood in celebration of the Yankee defeat and retreat from before Atlanta and the great Confed. Victory. He got drunk and while in this state was left behind by the army in their hasty retreat to meet Sherman further south. It was a Yankee trick in part that which blew Hood and his hordes from Atlanta. Yes, military strategy first real (??) I have seen since the war began. If I only had time I could let you into the secret.

Weather very fine although sometimes hot; boys from 92 all well so far as I know.
     
Much love to all
      Affectionately your son
      David Putnam